The Black Star Line was the name used by American sailing packets owned by the New York firm of Williams and Guion from 1848 to 1866.[1] The line owned 18 ships on the Liverpool-Queenstown-New York route.[1] The line was shut down in 1863 because of the success of newer, faster liners and the danger of transatlantic travel during the American Civil War.[2]
History
Williams and Guion was formed by John Stanton Williams and Stephen Barker Guion (1820–1885) in 1848.[1][3]
Guion moved to Liverpool in 1852 and acted as the line's agent. Williams remained in New York City.[1] In 1853 Guion's older brother, William Howe Guion joined the New York City office.[1]
In 1866, Stephen Guion became a British citizen. There he established the Guion Line of British steamships.[2] Williams and Guion owned 52% of the steamship line and acted as the New York agent for the company.[4] In 1876, John Williams died and the firm was restructured in 1883.[1]
In January 1884, William Guion resigned from the firm and his 36-year-old nephew, William Howe Guion, Jr. was made partner and the company was now called Guion and Company.[1][3][5]
The firm had to be liquidated in 1886 when both Stephen Guion and William Guion, Jr. died within weeks of each other.[1] The Guion Line was then reorganized as a public stock corporation.[2]
References
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